29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Tel. No. (415) Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2017

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ST. BRENDAN CHURCH 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA 94127 Tel. No. (415) 681-4225 www.stbrendanparish.

Well, let s ask the Great Google, as if the popular search engine were some great wizard pulling levers behind a curtain.

1 ST. BRENDAN CHURCH 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Tel. No. (415) Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2017 God Comforts His People: Let God Hygge You Whenever there is an open question or confusion on some point, my brother always claps his hands and says, Well, let s ask the Great Google, as if the popular search engine were some great wizard pulling levers behind a curtain. Truth be told, Google does seem to know everything, including how to create an innovative work environment. Last week, I visited the tech company s expansive campus, at the invitation of a friend and parishioner who works there. Throughout the tour, I goggled in awe at the visionary quality of the Google campus. Spread over several square miles in picturesque Mountain View, California, employees could call for chauffeured rides from one building to the next. Brightly-colored yellow bikes with baskets and vintage bells on the handlebars were strewn throughout the property, so that workers and guests alike could pedal from one place to another, alighting from the two-wheelers and leaving them wherever they wanted. The facilities included 35 restaurants with every kind of free food and drink imaginable, coffee bars with free lattes and snacks, hammocks and lazy outdoor furniture, tennis courts, a gym, an infinity pool, and much more. Work spaces were collegial and connective with cheerful décor. Socially acceptable messages about inclusivity and equality were posted throughout the winding corridors. Employees were not expected to work particular hours but could roam the campus at will and seemed to do whatever they wanted. At first blush, the Google campus appeared to be a kind of utopia. Yet, there was a shadow side, in my opinion. People wandered alone for the most part, not speaking to others. Social graces and etiquette among the inhabitants seemed to be lacking on most occasions. For all its idealism and forward thinking, there was sort of a soulless quality to it all. Indeed, it seems that whenever man tries to build paradise on his own, a dystopia inevitably emerges instead. The prophet Isaiah announces the presence and power of God in the world when he says in the first reading that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him to bring glad tidings to the poor. What Isaiah promises is a miraculous transformation of society. He understands the mission to be the creation of a perfectly just society. Isaiah believes that God will comfort all who mourn, once social conflict, hierarchy, class status, and disparities between the rich and the poor have been eliminated forever. Yet, Isaiah s dream was too small. The Christian belief is that God s Spirit indeed has been poured out, but upon Jesus to accomplish nothing less than the salvation of humankind and the entire world. In Christ, Isaiah s utopian vision was fulfilled in a way that far exceeded his deepest hopes and expectations. Importantly, it also was the result of God s work, not our own desire to build a perfect society. Hygge is the Nordic concept of coziness and comfort that we ve talking about for a few weeks. May the Great God bring you comfort this holiday season in the reassuring realization that, through the Lord s grace and not our own hands, we have already been redeemed. Fr. Roger Gustafson

Featured News & Events YEAR OF PRAYER CONTINUES January 24 at 7 p.m. St. Brendan s year of prayer continues next month with Frs. Evlogios Champas & Kevin Kennedy speaking on Praying with Icons.

Listen to author David Clayton's December 13 talk on turning your home into a house of prayer and then try it at home!

2 Featured News & Events YEAR OF PRAYER CONTINUES January 24 at 7 p.m. St. Brendan s year of prayer continues next month with Frs. Evlogios Champas & Kevin Kennedy speaking on Praying with Icons. Praise & Worship Music included and light refreshments following the presentation. CREATE A PRAYER SPACE IN YOUR HOME Create a little spiritual hygge in your home this Advent. Listen to author David Clayton's December 13 talk on turning your home into a house of prayer and then try it at home! Take a picture of your creation and send it to our Director of Evangelization & Faith Formation at manolito@stbrendanparish.org. We'll feature your prayer space in our newsletter and on our bulletin boards at the Christmas Eve Masses. CHRISTMAS PAGEANT REHEARSAL December 17, 9:30 a.m. Mass The annual Christmas Pageant will take place at the December 24 Christmas Eve Liturgy. All children are welcome to participate. One rehearsal will be held on Sunday, December 17, after the 9:30 am Mass. Please contact Tara Donohue: tdonohue@zephyrsf.com. EXPERIENCED NAVIGATORS NEW YEAR S EVE PARTY December 31, 6:00 p.m. Church Hall St. Brendan Experienced Navigators (50+ years) invite you to their annual New Year s Eve Party with music and potluck dinner. Please contact Tony Fernandez (415)

3 The Good News Praying with the Gospel of Luke: The Power of Persistence By Lisa Rosenlund, Saint Brendan Parish Manager Each week, we summarize a specific style, form, or approach to prayer, using the highly-acclaimed book by Robert J. Wicks, Prayer in the Catholic Tradition: A Handbook of Practical Approaches (Franciscan Media 2006). In this article, you ll learn more about using the Gospel of Luke as a basis for prayer. Dante described Luke as scriba mansuetudinis Christi, which translates to a scribe of the gentle mercy of Christ. Indeed, the Gospel of Luke instructs us to trust in God s mercy by praying continuously and persistently. When Jesus pauses to pray along the way to Jerusalem and the disciples ask how they should pray, he gives them a version of the Lord s Prayer that is considerably shorter than that of Matthew and beautiful in its simplicity: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial. That simple prayer is followed by a short parable known as The Friend at Midnight, in which one friend goes to the house of another at midnight asking for food to feed an unexpected guest. Jesus says that, even though the friendship is not a strong enough basis to induce the man to get out of bed, his friend s persistence will ultimately win out and cause the sleeping man to give his friend whatever he needs. The implication, of course, is that, if we knock at God s door through continuous and persistent prayer, our requests will be heard and answered. As noted by Wicks, among all the writings of the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke stands out for its emphasis on prayer. Indeed only Luke contains the two parables of prayer: The Friend at Midnight discussed above and the Parable of the Widow and the Callous Judge. In the latter, Jesus teaches the disciples about the need to pray always and not to lose heart. The widow, a symbol of powerlessness who has been denied her economic rights, appeals to a judge who, by his own admission, has no fear of God or respect for anyone. Yet, because of the widow s persistence, he gives in, and she ultimately receives justice. The parable teaches us that continual prayer is not simply passive waiting but an active quest for what we seek. There are many ways to integrate the Gospel of Luke into your prayer life. One of them is a new movement of looking at and praying with art called visio divina, literally divine watching. Illuminating Luke is a series of books written by a biblical scholar in collaboration with an art historian with examples of artwork depicting the events written about in the Gospel of Luke. Using books like this or even art found on the internet, we can use the Gospel of Luke in a new way to enrich our prayer life. And our own Father Evlogios, who is living in the Rectory, will speak on praying with icons in January.

4 The Good News Do I Really Have To Go To Church Twice on Sunday? No, your eyes are not deceiving you, nor have we gone crazy. However, several people have been asking about the fact that Christmas falls on a Monday this year, and they are wondering if they are still obliged to attend Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 23-24). The answer is yes. We have a wonderful opportunity this year to worship together twice on Sunday! Each Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation, as is Christmas, so the duty to take part in Sunday Mass still is present. If you have young children, or if you have relatives visiting, or if you are hosting a big dinner on Christmas Eve (e.g., Sunday night, December 24), you might want to bring your family to the Saturday night Mass on December 23, and then come to Christmas Eve Mass the next day. Especially when we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord Jesus each year, the Vigil Mass on December 24 is much loved and very popular! Or you could separate the events by attending the solemn and beautiful Midnight Mass on Monday morning. So, as you make your plans, here is our schedule for the last days of Advent, and the first days of the Christmas Season: Communal Penance Service (Wednesday, December 20 at 7 p.m.) Join us for a beautiful penance service with readings, music, and an uplifting message about God s mercy. This is a great chance to come to confession with your neighbors, enjoy music, Bible readings, a brief homily, an examination of conscience to help you focus, and then the opportunity to go to the priest of your choice for confession. We will have four priests available, three of whom are from outside Saint Brendan Parish. Fourth Sunday of Advent (Saturday, Dec. 23 Sunday, Dec. 24) The Fourth Sunday of Advent will have regular Mass times at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday evening and 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. Don t miss this comforting message about how to make room for others and bring them spiritual comfort this Christmas season. Christmas Masses (Sunday, Dec. 24 Monday, Dec. 25) Join us on Christmas for an uplifting message of hope for our world through the birth of Christ that inspires human beings to bring hope to others. Our popular Vigil Mass will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 24. Be sure to arrive early for a comfortable seat. Children will perform in a special Christmas Pageant, as well as sing in the choir. Our Midnight Mass begins at 12:00 a.m. and will feature our adult choirs. Arrive at 11:15 p.m. to hear and sing along with Christmas carols. Our Christmas Masses on Monday morning, December 25 follow a regular Sunday schedule, with Masses at 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. May the good Lord bless you and your loved ones as we approach one of the most important feasts of the year, the Birth of Jesus!

Stewardship Stewardship is the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God s gifts and shares them generously in love of God and neighbor.

A steward recognizes that God is the source of all life and every blessing and that all gifts of time, talent, and treasure come from God. A steward is grateful for those gifts.

5 Stewardship Stewardship is the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God s gifts and shares them generously in love of God and neighbor. Stewardship is not about money or fundraising. It is a spirituality. It is a way of life. A steward recognizes that God is the source of all life and every blessing and that all gifts of time, talent, and treasure come from God. A steward is grateful for those gifts. A steward takes care of and increases those gifts, and Stewardship is a spirituality centered on gratefulness and gratitude. This total way of life is reflected in a number of characteristics that are modeled on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ himself. While there are many such qualities that are an integral part of stewardship, one of the most essential is humility. As the worst of the seven deadly sins is pride, the opposite of pride, humility, must be of the greatest importance for our lives. Indeed, Saint Augustine wrote that pride changed angels into devils, and it is humility that makes men like angels. In his various letters, Saint Paul also urges his readers to practice humility. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory, he says for example. Rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves (2:3). The most profound example of humility, however, is Jesus. Describing himself as gentle and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29), Jesus reveals his humility to us in extraordinary, staggering ways taking on our human nature with his divine one, pouring out his life for us, and giving himself to us in the Eucharist under the appearance of common bread and wine (Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Characteristics of a Christian Steward (1999), 13). In the gospel reading today, John the Baptist expresses great humility. A delegation from Jerusalem is sent to find out whether John considers himself to be the Messiah, Elijah, or the great Prophet that Moses promised God one day would raise up for the Jewish people. John denies all of these roles and humbly describes himself simply as a voice crying out in the wilderness. John is a simple witness to one greater than he. The greater our own humility, the more we will acknowledge gratefully God s gifts us and share them generously with others. --Father Roger Gustafson, Pastor In the second reading today, Saint Paul admonishes his readers to give thanks in all circumstances. Whether this holiday season has been one of joy or difficulty, the world at this time turns to focus on the needs of others. The best way to be infused with a spirit of generosity is to remain grateful in every situation. This holiday season, we invite you to make a planned, proportionate, and sacrificial financial commitment to this parish and to poor that will continue throughout the year. The biblical standard is a tenth of our income, before taxes or anything else is taken out, half to the Church and half to the poor. It s a huge step and takes trust, but we can never out give God. NO SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEK SUNDAY COLLECTION December 10, 2017 GOAL $ 9,500 TOTAL $ 9,981 Over $ 481

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8 SAINT BRENDAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Church School Convent 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Rectory Phone: (415) Mon - Thurs: 8:30 am - Noon, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sun: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Laguna Honda Blvd. San Francisco CA Tel. (415) Canossian Sisters 234 Ulloa Street San Francisco CA Tel. (415) MASSES Sunday: 7:00, 8:00, 9:30,11:30 AM Mon-Fri: 6:30 & 8:30 AM Saturday: 8:30 AM 5:00 PM Holy Days: 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM CONFESSIONS Saturday: 4:15-4:45 PM Wednesday: 7:15-7:45 PM EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Wednesday: 7:00-8:00 PM Saturday: 4:00-4:45 PM BAPTISMS & WEDDINGS For information, please see our website at or call us at (415) Monday MASS INTENTIONS (December 18-24, 2017) 6:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. Corazon Delacruz Peggy Martin Tuesday Ralph Colet William (Will) Anthony Tarbox Wednesday Gerald Morell Thursday Friday SAT 8:30 a.m. SAT 5 p.m. SUN 7 a.m. SUN 8 a.m. SUN 9:30 a.m. SUN 11:30 a.m. SUN 5:00 p.m. Weekday Kevin Aguirre (L) Baltazar Aguirre III (L) Weekend Dennis Aguirre (L) George Rescalvo Tom Miller Theresa Modesti Angelo & Mario Ordano Albert & Madeline Brandi Ricardo S. Morada Robert A. Lunbeck People of St. Brendan Parish Father Roger Gustafson (L) STAFF Pastor Fr. Roger Gustafson fatherrogergustafson@gmail.com Parochial Vicar Fr. Peterson Tieng frpete@stbrendanparish.org Ext.220 Ext.214 In Residence Fr. Paul Warren Ext. 208 Pastoral Associate Sr. Angela Furia, FdCC Ext. 201 srangela@stbrendanparish.org Director of Evangelization & Faith Formation Manolito Jaldon manolito@stbrendanparish.org Ext. 205 Music Director Mario Balestrieri (415) School Principal Dianne Lakatta (415) dlakatta@stbrendansf.com Parish Manager Lisa Rosenlund (415) lisa@stbrendanparish.org Finance Manager Venetia Hui Gatus Ext. 202 venetia@stbrendanparish.org Administrative Assistant Ext. 101 Maeve O Reilly maeve@stbrendanparish.org Parish Leadership Advisory Board : Mike Modesti Finance Committee : Eoin O Connor Children and Youth Under Five Ministry: Kendra Perlitz Devon Klinefelter Girl Scouts: Lisa Shaskan Kirstin McFarlane Boy Scouts: Boy Scouts: Maureen Hurley Cub Scouts: Robert Rees (rdrees@gmail.com) Youth Ministry: Stacey Simpson Gus Del Puerto Religious Education & Sacramental Preparation Infant Baptism & RCIA for Children Sr. Angela Furia (415) , Ext. 201 Adult Faith Formation/Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA): Manolito S. Jaldon, Jr. (415) , Ext. 205 Sunday Children s Liturgy: Marco & Karen Donaldson Preparation for Reconciliation & First Holy Communion Grade 2: Stephanie Stanko Faith Formation: Grade 3: Tara Donohue Grades 4 & 5: Christina Bui Preparation for Confirmation: Grade 6: Manolito S. Jaldon, Jr. & Ben Gerigk Grade 7: Liza Bonpin Grade 8: Mary Zell Spellman Youth of St. Brendan: A Life Teen Ministry (Post Confirmation & High School): Manolito S. Jaldon, Jr. & Ben Gericgk Liturgical Ministries Lectors: Richard Pinto Eucharistic Ministers: Charlotte Bautista Ushers: Mike Casazza Sacristan: Jack Mona Liturgy Committee: Anne Kearney Parish Life Welcome Committee Kathleen Bost Jeremy Straus (sbwelcomecommittee@gmail.com) Hospitality Committee Maria Evangelista Mothers Club Lori Doyle Men s Club Joshua Shaskan Respect Life Mary Ann Schwab Knitting Ministry Marie Jean Longa Experienced Navigators: Tony Fernandez Small Groups: Outreach Ministries Consolation Ministry Merry Jean Chan mjchanstb@gmail.com Detention Ministry (San Dimas) Julio Escobar (415) Marian Servers Dr. Lou Scheerer St. Vincent de Paul Society Tad Tassone (415)

29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Tel. No. (415) Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2017

ST. BRENDAN CHURCH 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA 94127 Tel. No. (415) 681-4225 www.stbrendanparish.org Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2017 God Comforts His People: Hygge Your Home When I was